The moment the ships descended, the atmosphere shifted. The air, once filled with tension from the standoff between the three forces, now grew reverent stillness.
A single figure stepped onto the ground first, his steps slow. An aged elder, his presence alone carried the showed mark of untold years of wisdom.
Behind him, four men descended in unison, clad in robes of deep green and gold, the insignia of the Emperor Academy's Elders embroidered upon their chests. They were the elite protectors from the ascendants.
Though they were only a handful, none among the gathered forces dared to think of them as lacking. Each of these ascendants held power vast enough to command the battlefield, their strength alone capable of holding back the entire army. Even those from the most distant empires knew of the Academy's unparalleled reputation in nurturing ascendants, many had crossed vast lands just for the chance to be recognized by them.
